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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Finding Inspiration: How to Pick Colors

Sometimes finding inspiration for a design is one of the most difficult things to do. Where do you begin? What will be the color scheme, and the basis of the design? We can find inspiration from many of the things we see around us everyday. It doesn't have to be a complicated process.

One of the best places to look for design inspiration is from nature and photographs. What are some of your favorite vacation sites? What colors are there that remind you of that place. A beach color scheme would include sandy browns, blues, greens and whites. A forest inspired scheme would include dark, bark browns, mossy greens, and rich earthy colors.

Another great place to look for inspiration is from artwork, area rugs and fabrics. Find one that you really like, and examine the colors in it. Then pick paint swatches based on these colors. You can even take the fabric swatch or a photo to the paint store to match colors. This should give you a great start on your project and learning how to pick the best colors for your design. Most of all, just remember to have fun and try new and creative things!